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RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 116728. Cal. 45-70. Beautiful special order rifle with 26" full matted oct to rnd bbl, half magazine, ivory bead front sight and rare Vicker-Maxim style rear sight with ring & ivory insert. Bbl is marked "NICKEL STEEL" and all of the markings are on the left top flat to accommodate the matting. Left side of lower tang is marked with assembly number "673" and "XX". Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock. Receiver is beautifully engraved in Style #9 by one of the Ulrichs, probably John. Engraving consists of the vignette of a grizzly bear on the left side and a bugling bull elk on right side all surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with snake & dot borders. Engraving extends over the top & bottom of receiver, top tang & forend cap. Mounted with very nicely figured, about 2X, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with E-style carved forearm and capped pistol grip stock with a thick solid red pad that is 13-5/8" LOP. Bottom of stock and forend cap have factory sling eyes. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 45-70 with 26" matted half oct nickel steel bbl, extra light, plain trigger, fancy pistol grip stock & forearm, half magazine, carved Style-E, Lyman front & rear sights, Silver recoil pad, drop at the heel 3-1/8", length of stock 13-1/2" and engraved $4.00 in Style #9 with vignette 1&3, received in warehouse April 25, 1898. No shipping date or Order # are shown and the sling eyes are not mentioned. This may indicate that this was an exhibition rifle. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains about 95% orig blue with a few small scattered spots of pin prick pitting & thinning over chamber area; receiver retains faded case colors on the sides, turned silver over top & bottom; lever retains case colors in sheltered areas, mostly having turned silver; hammer retains strong case colors. Wood is sound with usual handling & use nicks & scratches showing moderate to heavy wear on the checkering and overall retains 75-80% orig piano varnish finish. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. 4-44457 JR24